Wolff has long held a stake in HWA, the company that runs both DTM and F3 racing programs on behalf of Mercedes. As such, he clearly would not be a direct replacement for Haug, given that the latter was simply a Mercedes employee.

It remains to be seen how a Mercedes role -- if it include the Mercedes F1 program as well as DTM and F3 -- would leave Wolff room for any further involvement with Williams.

Until now, Wollf has maintained parallel shareholdings in HWA and Williams without problem, but logic suggests that a Mercedes job encompassing F1 would make a hands-on role with any Williams racing interest untenable.

The 41-year-Austrian acquired a stake in Williams in November 2009 and was named executive director last year, having increased his day-to-day involvement with the team after the departure of Adam Parr.

“This is the moment where I was kind of pushed into a more active role,” he said. “I stepped into some things Adam did, and this was basically helping Frank in sporting decisions, having a close relationship to the FIA and the commercial rights holder, supporting Claire [Williams] with our key sponsors, key partners.”